If you prefer the multitasking qualities of a double-bowl sink but need larger bowls, check out your options in extra-wide double-bowl sinks. These come in widths of 36 inches or more, and give you plenty of space in which to work. However, they require a larger sink cabinet than the typical 24-inch, 30-inch or 36-inch sizes, so make sure you can accommodate one of these big guys before you decide.
Baskets for potatoes and onions. If you have a walk-in pantry that stays cool and dark, this can be a great place to store potatoes, onions and other produce that doesn’t require refrigeration, such as apples and squash. Pick baskets that will allow air to flow around the produce, and store each type in its own basket. Tip: Keep apples in a different section of the pantry since they produce ethylene gas, which can speed spoiling of nearby veggies.
Hexagons are a popular tile shape, but the diagonal edges mean they are often a bit trickier to install than a plain rectangle, with lots of pieces needing to be cut to make the sides end crisply in a straight line or at a corner. Or you can consider skipping all of those issues and let your tiles end where they may, creating a free-flowing design that refuses to conform to typical in-the-box thinking
Wood planks are most often seen on the floor, but they look just as beautiful above. While wood-paneled ceilings are often associated with cottages and farmhouses, they can work with a variety of styles of home. Panelling works well for transitional homes, especially in controlled doses like the small strip seen here, bringing texture and richness to the ceiling that a solid color can’t match.
Island on wheels. Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to good design. And this island on wheels hits the nail on the head. It acts as normal prep and eating space but can be moved to serve as a buffet, cocktail bar and more.
Banish burn marks. If you have some burn marks that just won’t come off your stainless steel stove, try this simple DIY recipe: 1 cup baking soda ¼ cup lemon juice 3 tablespoons Borax Club soda (for rinsing) Combine the first three ingredients to make a cleaning paste. Apply this paste to the entire stained area with a soft cloth. Scrub in the same direction as the grain of the stainless steel. Rinse with club soda and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
Inside the butler’s pantry, the two doors to the left of the refrigerator contain five roll-out shelves, as do the two doors to the right of the refrigerator. “So they have huge pantry space,” Demma says. The cabinet to the far right of the refrigerator is a broom and vacuum closet. On the right side of the pantry beneath the countertop the owners store the children’s art supplies, toys and other family life overflow. The butler’s pantry gets plenty of natural light thanks to its sun tunnels, which are basically metal tubes that stretch from the home’s exterior down to the ceiling level. You can see one of them in the previous photo; it looks like a recessed can light. “It’s a less expensive alternative to a skylight,” Demma says. “When the sun hits it, it reflects light down. But it’s natural light, so the quality of light is amazing. You don’t need any [artificial] lights in there during the day,” Demma says. Besides stashing family gear and food, the butler’s pantry makes a convenient location to prep or stage items for parties. Recently, the homeowners used this space to plug in a slow cooker that was handling a portion of the meal.
Butler’s pantry: This image shows the open barn door that leads to the butler’s pantry.
6. Step-stool cabinet. Figuring out where to put a step stool might seem like a trivial matter, but when you use one often and don’t want it cluttering up the kitchen, the situation can become a bit frustrating. Houzz writer Becky Harris found several smart solutions for conveniently storing step stools, including this slim cabinet at the end of an island.
2. Built-in pantry cabinet. If you think there’s no hope for your compact kitchen cabinet, you may be wrong. Clever storage solutions like this built-in pantry system can help squeeze vital inches and organizational capacity from any size space.
Custom bar: A bar area features shimmery gray wallpaper (Silver Siren by Phillip Jeffries) and a custom wood countertop made from the same bleached sycamore as the island legs.
Cabinets: Soothing gray custom cabinets (Harbor Gray by Benjamin Moore) offer a bright look without coming off as stark as pure white. The walls are painted in Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore. Floor: The redone floor is European white oak in 7¼-inch planks with a custom finish.
Go for pop-up outlets. Another option for an outlet-free backsplash is a pop-up outlet that disappears into the countertop. These are especially useful in places where there are no wall cabinets to hide a plug molding strip.
Compost-Recycling-Trash Last but not least: All clients ask for a combination of compost, recycling and trash bins. Many of them request compost — but at a minimum it’s nice to have a dedicated place for the recycling and trash containers.
Tall cabinet with roll-out shelves. One of my favorite ways to add storage is a tall cabinet with adjustable roll-outs that matches the new cabinetry. You don’t have to guess what’s behind the first row of supplies — simply roll out the shelf to see.
Food storage containers. Open up that messy Tupperware drawer and pull everything out. Match up the containers with their lids (check the dishwasher too) and toss or recycle mate-less pieces. Stack everything up neatly and return it to the drawer or cabinet. Use the dimensions of this space as a physical limit and give away containers that won’t fit comfortably in the space available.
Or hide it away in a walk-in pantry. Walk-in and butler’s, or working, pantries are becoming more popular in kitchens, particularly in new homes. As a kitchen designer, I get regular requests from clients that their dishwasher and a second sink be located in their pantry. This is so that all dirty dishes can be taken straight there after a meal, and all large pots and pans can be washed there, leaving the main kitchen neat and tidy and the sink empty to rinse glasses or wash hands. Busy families and larger households might consider having two dishwashers, one in the kitchen for everyday use, and one in the butler’s pantry for extra dishes or on those occasions when guests come over.
Appliance garages. Also sometimes called appliance closets, these are cabinets designed around size requirements for mixers, blenders, toasters and pretty much any other small appliance you may have and want to store. They put those appliances within easy reach when you need them and help tuck away and hide them when you don’t, keeping your countertops free of clutter.
The last thing you want after putting all your time and money into a kitchen remodel is to find out that your efforts didn’t do much to curb your clutter habits. The dish soap and sponges appear once again next to the sink. The toaster gets used and never put away. Unopened wine bottles accumulate on the counter.
Jewel tones. Chic and sophisticated tones such as ruby reds, golds, turquoises, emeralds and sapphires will appear throughout backsplashes, fabrics, hardware and more. Don’t be surprised to see range hoods donning these color tones too. “They will be made to look like jewelry in interesting shapes,” Lockhart says.
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